Just Beachin' It

While Mike is between job assignments at work, we have had the pleasure to have him home with us. It has been nice and has given us the opportunity to do a few extra things. Yesterday we found a nice beach on Lake Huron and spent the afternoon in and by the water. We all had a wonderful time.

Peek-a-Boo Meredith, I see you!

Meredith

Annalyse from Behind

The girls swimming

Fun in the Sand

Building Sandcastles

Sitting in the Moat


We had a real day, I told Mike he should become a teacher and everyday could be like this! :)

We are heading to WI on Thursday to see Annette and Justin. My mom and dad are also meeting us there. There are going to take Megan to Noah's Arc at Wisconsin Dells. It will be her first waterpark experience.

We're Home

We arrived home from the UP last Monday. The girls and myself were up there for close to a month. We had a really good time and got to see a lot of people we don't see that often. The only complaint is the weather could have been warmer to going swimming in the lakes, but oh well, maybe next year. Here are some of the highlights from the trip:

We went to Bay Park Amusements while visting Auntie Annette and Uncle Justin

4th of July in Lake Linden

4th of July in Baraga


Auntie Saundra and her new fiance Vince

The Voakes Family

The Voakes Cousins (all GIRLS! plus another on the way - from Roger and Beth!)


Beaching It



Megan Playing with Cousin Joshua


Bowling Fun at the new Mine Shaft




Megan is 4!!


More Fun at the Mine Shaft - Mini-Golf and Go-Carts





Back Home - Playing in a Puddle after the Rain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISON!!!

Today Alison turns the big 3-0, tonight we are having cake and ice cream with neighbors and friends. The centerpiece of the party will be the cake as Sam's Club discontinued the strawberry filled sheet cakes, but I was able to convince a baker to make us one. Yeah, they are good.

I think Alison is working on an update to the blog about the past vacation (month), so keep an eye out over the next few days.

If you get a chance wish a Happy Birthday under the comment section below. You don't need to register to leave a message.

Update from Past Week or So...

It has been one rough week and a half at the Voakes household. It all beagn when I got a call from day care last Thursday that Annalyse had a temperature of 102. Mike took her to the doctors and they said it was just a virus that her body had to fight. Her temperature finally broke on Sunday but still no energy or wanting to eat. During dinner on Sunday, the sky got darker and darker and it began to get very windy. We could see the BIG trees behind our house begin to bend and branches breaking off so we decided to move away from the patio doors. Our power also went out in the meantime. Well, it turned out that the storm hit most of Metro Detroit and we were one of the many households that lost power. It turns out that our power was off from about 5:30 pm Sunday to about 2:00 pm Tuesday, they were extremely long days - the temps were in the 90's and very humid, with no AC. Monday, I took Annalyse back to the doctors because she really wasn't getting any better and had gotten a cold in the meantime but again they told me it was a virus and he assured me that she would be better by Wednesday (the three girls were SUPPOSED to go up to my parents on Thursday). On Wednesday, we decided that it was for the best that the girls not go up to my parents so my dad decided to come down and help instead. (We had to take turns staying home with Annalyse all week while draining our sick days). As Mike was leaving for the Mackinaw Bride on Thursday around 11:30 to pick up my dad, he got a call from day care that Meredith had a fever of 104. I had to leave work at lunchtime and pick her up. Well, today - Friday, Mike brought Annalyse back to the doctors - 3rd time in 8 days and it turns out that she now has a double ear infection. Meredith is on the mend and as long as she doesn't catch Annalyse's and mine's cold - she should be well. The girls and I plan to head up to the UP on Wednesday or Thursday as long as everyone is healthy.

In other exciting news, last Saturday we took a walk to our town's Relay for Life (it is literally the street behind our house) and the New Baltimor Police Department was having a bike and child identification booth, they registered the girls for the raffle and Megan won a new bike (it had a price tag for $69.99 from Dick's).

We gave Mike his Father's Day gift because we THOUGHT the girls would not be here this Sunday to celebrate with him. We got him a picture and a Nintendo Wii.

Tons o' Trucks

Today we went to Tons o' Trucks put on by the Macomb Twp. Recreation Dept. It was in a local high school parking lot and they had every kind of truck imaginable...limosine party bus, school bus, fire truck, tow truck, ambulance, bobcat, bulldozer, etc. Megan enjoyed seeing all of the trucks but she could not wait to the end to go bouncing (and she hardly ever wants to go in her's at home.) The twins had fun people watching. Oh, were in the minority by far with only girls!

Memorial Day

We had a fun time at the New Baltimore Memorial Day parade this morning. The weather was perfect.

Sunny Weekend

Well, it looks like the sun is ready to shine in Detroit. We have finally had some nice spring weather.

On Friday, I brought Annalyse to her helmet check-up. I only had a half day of school so I took her instead of Mike. We got some very good news - she only needs to wear her helmet for protection, like when she is playing rough or outside playing. Her doctor said her head will swell if she falls to hard. We did let her play outside carefully for a little bit without her helmet, I don't think she has ever felt the breeze blow through her hair before. She also doesn't have to go back and see the doctor for two months (the end of July). She will have to go and get her helmet adjucted before then. Here is a picture of Annalyse and Dr. Rozelle. We have been very happy with her work and she was more than happy to have her picture taken (Annalyse on the other hand was a little short on sleep).On Saturday, we spent pretty much the whole day outside. We planted our flowers and vegetable plants in the afternoon - while the twins were sleeping! Megan wasn't too much into the flower planting this year, maybe next year! We had a barbeque over at our neighbor's for dinner and then watched some Detroit sports. There was another couple over at the BBQ that also have twin girls, they are almost exactly a year older. They informed that at about 18 months it begins to get easier, although they said with each new stage comes new challenges. Their girls were fighting over toys just like ours, I guess it really won't end until they move away from each other - 18 more years! It is kind of cute now but by the end of summer I am thinking it won't be so cute.

Annalyse with her bubble wands

Meredith with her golf club

Megan and Alison planting flowers

On Sunday we went to the zoo. It was a beautiful day (74 degrees). All three of the girls were great. Both of the twins took a little nap after lunch so it worked out perfect. Here are some pictures from the zoo.

Monday we plan to go to the New Baltimore Memorial Day parade and then Mike is going golfing with some friends. The girls and I are going to go to lunch with our friend Cristy (while her new husband Mark goes golfing with Mike).

It is also our anniversary. Hard to believe it has been 7 years, time does fly when your having fun! :)